Visible record



y 1943- A. M. MARTIN 2,318,239

VISIBLE RECORD Filed June 14, 1941 Patented May 4, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VISIBLE RECORD I Alfred M. Martin, Park Ridge, 111. Application June 14, 1941, Serial No. 398,003

Claims.

This invention relates to art of visible records and is an improvement on my co-pending application Serial No. 382,499, filed March 1941, reference to which may be had for further description of the function and utility of some of the expedients herein referred to.

It will sufiice to say here that the present invention is of particular utility in connection with a holder for supporting on their edges in upstanding position and therefore readily visible and accessible for machine posting, for example, a staggeredly overlapped series of record leaves disposed in echelon between a pair of upstanding covers, the record leaves being supported on rails or the like extending between the covers and engaged with the rails to maintain the leaves in overlapped position so that a margin of each leaf is-visibie in the series of overlapping leaves for quick reference to any one leaf therein.

In th use of such holders it has been found that a quick movement of one of the covers away from the leaves to expose the series will create an air vacuum or suction or other tractive influence which draws one or more of the leaves with the cover away from the series and which thus disrupts the series and the readyvisibility of the leaves.

The present invention aims to overcome this difficulty in the use of such posting devices and to provide means therefor simple and effective while materially minimizing interference with the visibility of the leaves and the removal or replacement thereof in the holder;

The invention will be understood and other advantages thereof perceived by reference to the illustrative embodiment next described and shown in the drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of such a holder with my invention associated therewith;

Figure la is a fragmentary side elevational view .of parts shown in Fig. 1, looking at therighthand end of the device;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longl :tudinal sectional viewof the holder of Fig. 1 showing parts in elevation; and

Figur 3 is a separate perspective view of the present improvement device.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the holder .IO may be formed conveniently of sheet metal into somewhat trough shape, as at I I, resting on :its under side on a strip of say wood l2 suitably secured thereto and faced with leather or ornamental fabric l3 whereby the whole may rest movably on a desk or table top for use thereon.

Hinged by appropriate means not necessary to be here shown, tothe longitudinal sides of the holder lil are a pair of outer covers 14 and I5, which, when the covers are spread apart to give access to the contents of the holder may be braced by a pair of pivoted legs l6 and I7, one on each cover to prevent capsizing of the device.

Intermediate of the outer covers l4 and 15 are a plurality of inner covers 18 which are held in and removable from the holder by means shown in Fig. 2, as by being mounted on rollers l9 at each end, so that these intermediate covers will swing easily toward and from the outer covers when the device is opened .as shown in Fig. 1. The rollers l9, which it will be understood are suitably duplicated at the opposite end of the holder, may rest on mats 20. Above the rollers IS the intermediate covers are cut away as at 2| so that the intermediate covers may be moved longitudinally to place one end of the rollers under the overhanging flange 22 of a retaining strip 23 secured in the holder, after which a block 24 may be inserted between the holder end wall '25 and the intermediate cover members H! as a group to maintain them in place. The body 21 of the intermediate cover member I8 is desirably of fibre board or the like, bound by a metal edge 28.. The block 24 may carry a label clip 26 to indicate the contents of the device.

Disposed transversely of the holder l0, and spaced apart in parallelism longitudinally of the holder are rails 29 which may be of metal in angled form having a horizontal flange 30 for welding to the trough l l of the holder l0.

Supported on the rails 29 and between two of the intermediate covers I8 are arranged a series of overlapping record leaves 3|, the margins of visible, as is well known in the art. In said series .3l the leaf 33 constitutes a final leaf, in that this leaf, and not merely its margin 32, is entirely visible, since it is not overlapped by another leaf in the sense in which theother leaves of the seriesare overlapped, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The leaves of the series 3| have a plurality of notches in their lower edges so as selectively to be engaged with the rails 29 and prevent shift.- ing of the leaves longitudinally of-the holder. Th intermediate covers 18 are cutaway asv at 35 to receive the rails 29 and permit the lower toothedmargins 36 of the intermediate covers to extend downwardly between the rails 29 and below the lower margins of the leaves 3|, thus protecting the latter, as clearly shown in Fig. 2;

In accordance with the presentinvention, I have shown a detent member 31 of very much less area than the intermediate covers l8 and even of substantially less area than the final leaf 33,

resting by the action of gravity against the final leaf but swingable away therefrom in the holder for removal or replacement of the final leaf, and, for that matter, of the other leaves in the series also. As seen from Fig, 1, there may be two of the detent bars 31 for a given series of leaves.

The detent bar 31 is desirably of metal so as to be relatively heavy for its size, and may be, as here shown, in the form of a flat bar having a reduced lower end 38 in the extremity of which is an open ended slot 33 extending axially of the bar. The open ended slot 39 sufiicient to permit the bar to be placed on one of the rails 29 with the rail received in the slot The slot 39 is desirably slightly deeper than the notches 34 of the leaves. By a somewhat snug fit at this point, the bar, although heavier at its top, is held upright on the rail, that is, is held from tilting or falling ineither direction longitudinally of the holder Iii, while being free to fall transversely of the holder because of the same fact, i. e., that the bar is heavier at its top and its length exerts a leverage. The snug fit of the rail 29 in the slot 39 is not so snug but what the bar is also free to slide on the rail to adapt itself to movement of the other parts, although, as later pointed out, such sliding is practically absent in normal operation of the device and the important movement of the bar is a transverse swinging movement.

' The bar may be swung in this transverse direction with the leaves 3| and intermediate covers It, in response to movements of these parts for opening and closing of the device to disclose the record leaves, and, for the same reason, the bar is free to fall under the influence of -gravity against the final leaf 33 and thus retain not only "this final leaf but the entire series of leaves 3| against the next rearward intermediate cover [8, which may be one of the division partitions for an alphabetical classification of say M as indicated by the tab 10. Other of the intermediate covers l8 may be for other alphabetical classific'ati-ons, as by carrying'tab's 4| or 42, for example. The particular series of record leaves-3| may be for an alphabetical classification of say L, as indicated by thetab43 carried by the partition i8 next in front of the series 3|, "and the diagonal exposed margin portions of the exposed margins 32 of the series 3| may carry each the name of a customer, having a na'me beginning with the letter L. The heavy line 44a which appears on the final leaf 33 and which is also on the other leaves of the series, but concealed, signals to the eye of the user that the index mar- --g-ins 44 of the leaves of the series terminate at "this point and that the operators'eye need not travel further to the right 'in Fig. '1 in this particular series 3|.

It will be understood that the direction in which the tabs 49,'4| and 42 and 43 face, with the lettering thereon, is toward the front of the device and at this time the label clip 26 is toward the right-hand side of the user. Consequently, if the device were closed but ready for -'use, the cover I4 and the intermediate partitions It; in front of the series of record leaves 3| would'be in "the first instance tilted rearwardly so as to lie 1 against the series 3| and'inclined in the rearward direction with the leaves 3|, the partitions |8 behind the leaves, and the'rear cover |-5. 'As best shown in 'Fig. 1a, the metal edges 28 of the :par-

titions' l8 are embossed rearwardly at their'tops T is of a width just as at45, so as to overhang the series of leaves to the rear of each partition and form a protection therefor. Thus, in this instance, the series of leaves 3| is overhung by the partition I8 next in front of the series, that being the partition carrying the tab 43 displaying the letter L, in this instance. When, now, it is desired to expose the series of leaves for the alphabetical classification L, which in this instance would be the series denominated here as 3|, the partition I 8 carrying the tab 43 for L, and being the one next in front of the series 3|, is grasped and pulled forwardly, and with it the partitions l8 in front of it and the front cover M, to the position shown in Fig. 1 in which the device is then opened, for display of the series 3|.

v In pulling forward on the tab 43 for this purpose, and particularly because of the rearward overhang at 45 of the partition carrying the tab 53, if it were not for the detent 3! as here shown, the final leaf 33 of the series 3| would be apt to follow the partition in front of it to the forward inclination shown in Fig. l and perhaps with it other leaves of the series, which would thus disrupt the series 3| and would render the face of the leaf 33 concealed until the leaf were caused to be restored to its rearward inclination with the other leaves 3!. Because of the presenceof the weighted bar 31, however, in accordance with the present invention, the suction or other'tracti've influence of the forward partition on the leaf 33 is counter-acted, and the series 3| is maintained unbroken for ready visibility. At the same time, when it is desired by the operator to remove the leaf 33 as for mach ne posting thereon, or, similarly, any of the other leaves of the series 3|, the bar or bars 3'! may be readily swung forwardly by the operator to lie in the opposite inclination against the partition carrying the tab 43. Thereafter, when the entire series of leaves 3| is replaced in the device, and the device is closed, the bar or bars 3? will swing back to their rearward inclination for the next operation of opening the device for use and for exerting the detaining influence of the detent.

Should one of the bars 3'! be tilted longitudinally of the holder by the operator forcefully and accidentally, I have provided that the leverage so exerted, which would be substantial because of the relative length of the bar with respect to its width, shall not be transmitted to the rail 29 to perhaps bend or break the latter, and to this end I desirably reduce the foot of the bar as at 38 so that the tines 46 at each side of the slot 39 may be narrow enough to bend orbreak off before the rail 29 is bent. J

A stock of the bars 31 maybe kept on hand apart from t'he device here illustrated, and hung, say, on a nail, as by the holes 41 at the head of =-thebar.

So constructed and arranged, the bars31 fun ction with a maximum of efiiciency'and aminimum of interference with the normal operation of the device, for a numberof'reasons which will be especially appreciated by those skilled in 'the ar-t. For one thing, the bars being relatively narrow in proportion to their weight, cover substantially little of the final leaf 33 so that much of'the information on this leaf may be read without the'necessity to swing forward the bar or bars 31 resting against it, and particularly so that the signal line 44a is not covered by the bar. Also, the bars maybe placed selectively on the rail 29 so as to be-staggered throughout the device and thus minimize increase in thicknes of the device as a Whole between the covers l4 and I5. Furthermore, the bars being of metal and thus distinguished from the leaves, will be less subject to accidental or unintentional removal by the operator when leaves are removed.

While the bar 31 has been spoken of as a weighted member, and as of being relatively heavy for its size, it should not be understood that these bars need to be excessively heavy, one of the novel advantages of the present invention being that the bars are not only relatively heavy for their size but are of relatively small size with respect to the leaves and covers so as to present a materially less area to the suction or other tractive influence brought into play when a partition is moved quickly from rearward to forward inclination, as described.

The tines 46 should not be so long but what the detent 31 may be used on the end rail 29 shown at the right-hand side of Fig. 2, the vertical height of which is partly occupied by the retaining strip 23. Also, by restricting the length of the tines 46, jamming or wedging of these tines in the holder is prevented. Furthermore, by reason of the relatively short and almost negligible distance provided, by the construction here disclosed, between the axis of the roller [9 and lower edges of the leaves 3| in which the notches 34 are located, there is practically no forcing of the leaves backwards and forwards on the rails 29 (as there would be if this distance were greater) as the device is opened and closed and the intermediate covers swing from rear to front or viceversa. The fact that the lower edge of the leaves are therefore not shifted back and forth not only minimizes wear on the critical edge of the leaves containing the notches 34 but also makes possible the use of the novel detent bar 31 here shown, since the bar operates almost entirely by a swinging movement and without the necessity for a sliding movement on the rails 29.

Particularly with somewhat wide leaves the amount of build-up of the leaves by their cumulated thicknesses which will occur in the region of the middle of the holder, longitudinally speaking, will permit the detent bars to be placed say at one end of the holder as shown in Fig. 2, without adding to the thickness of th device as a whole, the thickness of the material of the detent bar being conveniently approximately no greater than the thickness of such build-up.

When, at times say, especially thin and narrow leaves, having enhanced response to suction, be employed, in which case the build-up would be much less pronounced, it may be desirable to employ more than one of the detent bars as shown in Fig. 1, here again without adding substantially to the over-all thickness of the device as a whole, provided desirably the bars are placed at a suitable distance from the maximum buildup thickness of the leaves and toward the end of the holder, as shown in Fig. 1.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. That improvement in the art of visible records which comprises a holder, a pair of covers carried by the holder, rails extending between the covers, a series of overlapping record leaves engaged with the rails, one of the leaves being a final leaf in the series, and a detent member of less area than the covers upstandingly carried by a rail to normally rest by the action of gravity against said final leaf but swingable away therefrom on the rail for removal or replacement of said final leaf therein.

2. That improvement in the art of visible records which comprises a holder, a pair of covers carried by the holder, rails extending between thecovers, a series of overlapping record leaves engaged with the rails, one of the leaves being a final leaf in the series, and a detent member of less area than the covers upstandingly carried by a rail to normally rest by the action of gravity against said final leaf but swingable away therefrom on the rail for removal or replacement of said final leaf therein, said detent member having a slotted lower end to receive the rail.

3. That improvement in the art of visible records which comprises for use with a holder, parallel rails carried by the holder, and a pair of upstanding covers mounted on the holder to swing in the direction of said rails, a detent member in the form of a bar of relatively heavy material and readily interchangeably engageable with the rails respectively to swing on a rail in the same direction as the covers and also to slide thereon in said direction whereby a se ries of record leaves may be arranged in echelon on the rails and disposed between a cover and said detent member and the detent member may be selectively disposed to lie against the final leaf of the series.

4. That improvement in the art of visible records which comprises for use with a holder, parallel rails carried by the holder, and a pair of upstanding covers mounted on the holder to swing in the direction of said rails, a detent member in the form of a bar of relatively heavy material of substantially less area both laterally and vertically than the covers and readily interchangeably engageable with the rails respectively to swing on a rail in the same direction as the covers and also to slide thereon in said direction whereby a series of record leaves may be arranged in echelon on the rails and disposed between a cover and said detent member and the detent member may be selectively disposed to lie against the final leaf of the series.

5. That improvement in the art of visible records which comprises for use with a holder, parallel rails carried by the holder, and a pair of upstanding covers mounted on the holder to swing in the direction of said rails, of a series of relatively light weight record leaves mounted in echelon on said rails and having a final leaf adjacentoneendof the holder transversely of the rails, a detent member in the form of a bar of relatively heavy material of substantially less area than the final leaf and readily interchangeably engageable with one of the rails adjacent said end to swing on the rail in the same direction as the covers and disposed to lie against the said final leaf whereby the thickness of the series adjacent the center of the holder is not materially increased by said bar.

' ALFRED M. MARTIN. 

